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CVE-2026-73642 – Unauthenticated Path Traversal / Arbitrary File Read – Dayforce Payroll R2026.2.0

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Summary

CVE-2026-73642 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in the file download functionality of Dayforce Payroll. An unauthenticated remote attacker can manipulate a file path parameter in a GET request to reach arbitrary local files, including absolute paths outside the intended download directory. The issue carries a Critical severity score of 9.2 and requires no authentication or user interaction to exploit.

Technical details

  • Root cause: The file download endpoint in Dayforce Payroll fails to properly sanitize or restrict a user-supplied file path parameter, allowing directory/path traversal sequences and absolute paths to be passed through to the underlying file system read.
  • Trigger conditions: An attacker sends a crafted GET request to the affected download endpoint with the file path parameter set to an arbitrary path (relative traversal or an absolute local file path).
  • Attack vector: Network-based, unauthenticated, no user interaction required, low attack complexity.
  • Impact: Disclosure of sensitive files accessible to the application process (e.g., configuration files, credentials, or other data outside the intended download scope), resulting in high confidentiality impact. No integrity or availability impact has been reported.

Affected software

  • Dayforce Payroll version R2026.2.0 (confirmed)
  • Other versions may also be affected — the vendor has not yet confirmed a full affected version range, as reporter contact attempts with the vendor were unsuccessful at time of disclosure.

Severity

  • CVSS Score: 9.2 (Critical)
  • CVSS Vector (v4.0): CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N
  • Note: The vulnerability record publishes a CVSS v4.0 vector; no CVSS v3.1 vector has been published for this CVE at the time of writing.

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: No vendor patch has been published as of disclosure. Organizations running Dayforce Payroll R2026.2.0 or other potentially affected versions should contact Dayforce support directly to obtain a fix or confirmation of remediation status.
  • If no patch is available:
    • Restrict network exposure of the Dayforce Payroll file download endpoint to trusted networks only; do not expose it directly to the internet where avoidable.
    • Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule to detect and block path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, encoded traversal sequences, absolute file paths) in request parameters targeting the download functionality.
    • Monitor logs for anomalous GET requests to file download endpoints containing path traversal indicators or absolute file paths.
    • Apply least-privilege file system permissions to the application service account to limit the scope of files accessible even if traversal succeeds.

References

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